Back brace



sew-29,1525. 1,555,122.

I R. E. KELLY BACK BEACH Filed Sent. 19220 2 Sheets-Shae}. 2

iiivsu'ron ATTORNEY i v I I .1. 5 D

I $GI'ZELZEZQ, WI NESISI/ZZMW g I I X BY I v 5 Florida, have inventednew or support which may and means for adjusting the Patented Sept. 29,1925.

ROBERT EMMETT KELLY, OF MIAMI, FLORIDA.

' BACK BRAGE.

Application filed September 17, 1924. Serial No. 738,319.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, ROBERT E. KELLY, a citizen of the United States,residing at Miami, in the county of Dade and State of and usefulImprovements in Back Braces, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to back braces, and is a continuation in part ofapplication No. 653,529, filed July 24, 1923, and also embodies certainimprovements in the structure disclosed therein.

An object is to provide a device which may be readily applied inposition to brace or support the body of a workman while in a stoopingposition, such as is assumed by cotton pickers or in similar work, whereit is necessary to use the hands at or near the surface of the ground.

Another object is to provide a back brace be attached to and carried bythe trousers or overalls of the wearer, and having means for engagementwith the body of the wearer when he bends over, so that the entireweight of the upper part oft-he body is transferred to the knees andlegs, and the muscles of the back are relieved of the strain, and thearms are left free to perform the required work.

Still another object is to provide means for holding the brace orsupport in a comfortable position when the wearer is erect, device sothat it may be wornand used with comfort by persons of difierent sizes,or with the bodyengaging member in engagement with different portions ofthe upper body of the wearer.

Withthese and other objects as will appear as the description proceeds,the invention consists in the novel features of construction,combinations of elements, and arrangements of parts, hereinafter to befully described and claimed;

A full and complete understanding of the invention may be obtained froma consideration of the following detailed description, taken inconnection with the accompanying drawing forming a part of thisspecification; it being understood that while the drawing shows apractical form of the invention, the latter is not confined to strictconformity with the showing thereof, but may be changed or modified solong as such changes and modifications mark no material departure fromthe salient features of the invenillustrating tion, as specificallypointed out in the appended claims.

In the drawing, wherein similar characters designate corresponding partsthroughout the several figures Figure 1 is a front elevation of theimproved device in position on the body of the wearer with the latter inan erect position;

Figure 2 is a side elevation thereof showing the device in appliedposition with the wearer in a stooping position;

FigureS is an enlarged perspective view of the complete device;

Figure 4. is a horizontal sectional view the manner in which the deviceis attached to the leg of the wearers gar ment;

Figure 5 is a side elevation of one of the supporting members, a portionbeing shown in section to disclose details of construction;

Figure 6 is an enlarged fragmentary View illustrating the clamp and itsattachment to the supporting member;

Figure 7 is a side elevation thereof; and

Figure 8 is a rear elevation of a portion of the device, illustratingthe adjustable connection between the telescoping portions of thesupporting members.

In carrying out the invention, a pair of leg engaging bands areemployed, each being formed alike and having identical means forclamping a portion of the trousers or overall legs, said bands being inthe form of semi-circular plates fitting the front portions of the legs,and each having a. central, longitudinally adjustable post attached attheir outer or upper ends to a body engaging plate. In the drawing thesame reference numerals have been applied to each half of the device.

The leg bands 1 are formed of thin tempered, spring steel, preferablyabout two and one half inches wide and bent into semicircular form tofit the front part of the leg just above the knee, the ends of the band1 being turned outwardly in a radial direction and parallel to eachother to formiears 2, as shown in Figures 3, 4 and 6 of the drawing.

Clamps 3, each consisting of a pair of thin rectangular metallic plates4 and 5, which are spaced apart and pivotally secured togetherintermediate their ends by hinge rod 6 passing through the aperturedbent up extensions 7 on the plates, are fixedly secured to: eachiend ofthe bands 1v by rivets 8, passing through one end of plate 5 andreference passes through .hang dow 26 .1S provided,

eyes 28 on the respective des abl .t bind or other suitable-softmaterial to -cover all. sharp,edges and thus protect the body.

the ear 2, as best shown in Figure 6. In order-that the inner end ofplate 4 may be caused to hold a portion of the trousers leg 8 tightlyagainst the inner surface of the ear 2, the bolt S) having a winged head10 to permit its easy manipulation, pas s through the threaded aperturein the raised boss 11 and plates, with its inner end positioned toengage plate a and force the inner end of the-latter toward ear 2 andplate 5. At the front of each band :1 ant at the center thereof, thereis secured, as by rivets 12, an attaching plate 13 of a tubular post llwhich, when the bands 1 areattached to the legs of the wearer in astanding position, extend forwardly and upwardlv at an angle to thehorizontal plane of the bands.

Telescoping into the tubular posts :l-t are smaller tubes 15, whichnormally extend beyond the outer open ends thereof, and are providedthroughout the major portions of their lengthswith aseries of alincdperforations .16, any one of which is adapted to receive the locking pin17 of the leaf spring 18, which pin also traverses the aperturel9zformed-in the wall of the tubular post 14. The .spring 18 has one ofits ends fixedly secured to the post 14 and tendsto hold the pin 17in-its innermost position.

By drawing the .freecndof the spring away from the post let, the pin 1'7may be introduced into any one otthe apertures :16 to lengthen orshorten the effective length of,the .post,,as will be,readilyunderstood.

The outer ends otthe tubes 15 are closed, enlarged and apertured as at20, to receive the curved body-engaging plates 21 which extend an equaldistance at each side of the tubes. The adjacent ends of the plates 21(as positioned onthebody) are apertured asat 22, andthe plates areyieldingly secured together by an elasticstrap 23which the apertures andhas its .free ends adjustably secured together by a buckle 24- orequivalentmeans.

This construction overcomes the tendency vof the; two brace members 25to twist around the legs andlean outward to either side.

The brace also tends tolean forward and when the wearer assumes an erectposition. To overcome;this, the strap which is adapted to haveitscentral portion secured to the wearers back in any convenient manner,as by passing through between the two shoulder straps when overalls areworn, and has snap hooks 27 atits ends for engagement with members. thepractice of this invention, it is ,the plates 21 with cloth angle fromeach band, a engaging plate on the outer end of each hold said bands,

,leng tud n y From the foregoing it will beseen that a simple, cheaplymanufactured ;-and strong and durable device of this character has beenprovided, which may be quickly and easily attached to or detached fromengage ment with the trousers or overalls, and which may be readilyadjusted to different sized persons to engage the breast when stooping,and which serves to support the entire weight of the upper portion ofthe body, thus relieving the muscles and prm riding greater ease andcomfort to the user.

lVhat is claimed is 1. In a back brace a leg band, means thereon forengaging the garment ofthe wearer at the leg, a rigid post extendingfrom the band, and a body-engaging plate at outer end of the post.

2. In a back brace, a leg band, meanstor clamping the trousers of thewearer, at each end of said band, a post extending-from the .leg band atan angle thereto, ,a transverse gagement with the garmentbotthe wearerat the leg,

lyaround the front of the leg above the and being adaptedtofitpartialknee,

a rigid post arising at an angle from each and, and a body engagingmeans at the outer end of each post.

4. A back brace comprising a ,pair of semi-circular metallic leg ba-nds,each-band having at each end clamping means for engagementwiththegarment ofthe wearer at theleg, and being adaptedto fitpartiallyaround the front ofthe leg above the knee, a rigid extensible postarising at .an

transverse bodv post, and resilient means connectingadjaa cent ends ofsaid plates.

5. A back brace comprising ,a pair of semi-circular bands, means on thebands. for engaging the garment of the wearer to the bands in operativeposition on the legs, rigid posts arising at'an angle from a transversebody engaging plate on theouter end of each .post," and means detachablyconnectedwith said posts and engageable with the back of the wearer tohold theposts adjacent the body when the wearer is in erectposition.

6. A back brace comprising a pair of longitudinally extensiblesupporting mem bers resiliently connected together ,at one ,end, eachmember comprising a semi-circular leg engaging band, an extensible post,

7. A back and a curvedbodyeengagmg plate.

a eomprl mg a p i of ex ns summin r me bers resiliently connectedtogether at one end, each member comprising 'a semi-circular legengaging band, an extensible post, a curved body engaging plate, andmeans for maintaining said plate in adjusted positions with respect tosaid leg bands I 8. In a device of the class described, a semi-circularleg engaging band having ra dially extending ears on each of its ends, aclamp secured to each ear and comprising a pair of plates spaced apartand pivotally secured together intermediate their ends, and means havingthreaded engagement with one of said plates and engageable with theother plate to force an edge of the latter into clamping engagement withsaid ear. 9. In a device of the class described, a supporting membercomprising a leg engaging band, means on each end of the band forengaging the garment of the wearer, a rigid tubular post arising at anangle from the band, a smaller tubular post telescoping within saidrigid post, means secured to the rigid post and engageable with thesmaller post to maintain the latter in adjusted position, and means onthe smaller post engaging the body of the wearer.

10. A body brace comprising a pair of semi-circular metallic leg bands,each band having at each end means for engagement with the trousers oroveralls of the wearer and being adapted to fit partially around thefront of the leg above the knee, said means comprising clamps secured toand extending outwardly from the ends of the leg bands and open on theiropposed inner sides for the entrance of a fold of the trousers oroveralls, said clamps including pivoted plates, thumb screws forengaging the plates to clamp said folds, a post rising from each legband, and means on the posts to engage the body of the wearer.

In testimony, that I claim the foregoing as my own, I have heretoaifixed my signature.

ROBERT EMMETT KELLY.

